From a Pearl's Perspective

From a Pearl’s Perspective –

I have heard seasoned women say that there is one accessory item (in addition to a smile)that is a must have for  every woman’s wardrobe.  That item is a nice string of pearls.  It is this demure item that can turn the look of a classic white tee, pencil skirt and pumps into a boardroom power wear of elegance and sophistication.  It speaks to the little girl as she gazes at the seasoned church woman reminding her of the grace, class and style women possess. Pearls come in all colors shapes and sizes.  If you Google anything about pearls you will obtain Fun Facts like:

“Pearls have been worn since the earliest times of civilization. Dating back to 520 BC, the oldest item of pearl of jewelry was discovered in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess. The Romans prized them and wore jewelry and clothing embellished with pearls. Wealthy women in medieval Europe enjoyed pearls as a portrayal of authority symbolizing you were a person of great wealth and importance. The legend is that Cleopatra dissolved a pearl in wine and drank it to prove her love for Marc Antony. Another version of the story is that she won a bet with Marc Antony that she couldn’t create a banquet that cost more than the assets of a country. Another story states that the Roman general Vitellius was able to finance a full military campaign just by selling one of his mother’s rare and beautiful precious pearl earrings. Great historical paintings showed woman wearing pearls, too.”

The most intriguing fact for me is how the pearl is formed.  The abbreviated Google Fun Fact version is this:  

“Pearls are formed over many years, deep within the sea and must first overcome many obstacles to survive. Pollution, hurricanes, tsunamis, climate change, over fishing, and increasing ecological problems are constant threats to the delicate balance of the oysters’ habitat. Pearls begin their life when a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece of shell that intentionally lodges itself in an oyster’s fleshy inner body where it can’t be expelled. In a defense mechanism to try and ease the irritant, the oyster begins to secrete a smooth, hard crystalline substance. Eventually over time, layer upon layer, the irritant will be completely surrounded by the silky crystalline coating. As a result, the gleaming gem we call a pearl is born. The resulting shining pearly luster is the reflection of light penetrating through the nacreous layers prove a result of perseverance, a testament to the oyster or mussel’s ability to overcome great challenges and survive yielding the formation of a smooth, glistening beauty. Through the combination of serendipity and determination, something ordinary forms into something extraordinary”.

I believe the reason why women have such an intimate adoration for the pearl and the peal compliments women is because of the commonality in how we are formed.  (Relax.  Don’t convict me before you hear the end of my argument).  Woman have endured quite a bit of, let’s call it stuff over the years.  Not to say men have not, but I am speaking to women now.  Stay tuned gentlemen, You Got Next!  Have you ever been going on with your life, things are good -  Family is safe, job is prospering, children are making you proud or whatever your story is then, all of a sudden, a foreign object, parasite if you will comes along seeking to attach itself to your flesh?  The body begins to go into protective mode and builds a protective cover over your spirit that you may not notice immediately. Yet, over time it begins to grow into a pearl -Beautiful shape and color  that when you are now presented  to your public, they don’t see your issue or the parasite (issues) that has tried to attack or lodge its nasty self to your spirit.  They see something much brighter and beautiful. They  They cannot help but wonder some may even ask, “How are you so Happy after that last battle?”  Your shinning self can tell them something on the inside was wwworking on the outside.  The now you they see is the response to the attacks – your Permanent, Effective Application of  Resilience, Love and Sanctification  - YOU ARE WEARING YOUR PEALS.  The rare jewel (you) that is formed for each level of attack.  The beauty of the pearl has nothing to do with the attack but rather our response to the attack.  How Ladies are we responding when the attacks come?  Word for word? Expletive to expletive, Facebook post to Facebook post? or are we reminded to

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer everyman – Colossians 4:6

Are we taking stock in the fact this -

Fe or the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God  to the pulling down of strong holds – 2 Corinthians 10:4

Women can we not look at our attacks as those things that are here to grieve us but as instruments used to grow the pearls (Permanent, Effective Application of  Resilience, Love and Sanctification). In us. We will not look the same, speak the same. Generations of woman behind us will see and speak not of our trials but the beauty of our Peals.

Let your light so shine that men may see your good works and glorify your father which is I heaven.

Say What women of God?  Wear your P.E.A.R.L.S.